Cole St. Clair

St. Clair outpitched teammate Phil Hughes at Foothill High in Santa Ana, Calif., in 2004, after which Hughes signed with the Yankees as a first-round pick and St. Clair headed to Rice. St. Clair figured to match Hughes' draft status entering last season, but he injured his arm lifting weights. The exact nature of the injury is up in the air. It has been reported as a shoulder strain and biceps tendinitis, while some scouts maintain it was a labrum tear. St. Clair didn't require surgery, but his stuff hasn't been the same since. While with the U.S. college national team in the summer of 2006, he featured a 91-94 mph fastball and a plus curveball. Factoring in his size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) and his makings of a changeup, and some clubs projected him as a pro starter. But for much of the last two years, he has pitched at 87-88 mph and topped out at 91 with his fastball. His curveball isn't as tight as it was previously. St. Clair has continued to succeed for the Owls, thanks to his command, deceptive high leg kick and his competitiveness. The Indians failed to sign him as a seventh-rounder in 2007, and though he has completed his eligibility and his economics degree, he still may be a tougher sign than most seniors. If he regains his previous stuff, he could be a steal.